Ivory and Wood Whist Counter: MOP inlaid tabs

Antique whist counter with shibayama tabs. The wooden body (3½" x 2") of the counter is decorated with a golden floral design, while the ivory tabs are inlaid with various mother-of-pearl insects and birds. Whist preceded the game of bridge and these counters were used to keep score in the late 19th C. They are extremely hard to find and are sought by collectors of game counters, ivory, shibayama, orientalia, etc.